Lived experience helps people understand how disability inclusion strategies are experienced in everyday working environments, not just how they appear on paper. It turns disability inclusion from a compliance exercise into practical, real-world learning that people can apply with more confidence.
Hearing directly from disabled people helps line managers and senior leaders better understand how reasonable adjustment policies, inclusive recruitment processes and workplace culture affect employees in practice.
We use our experience to bring theories and concepts to life. This is because we can add real examples that make the learning tangible. We are all passionate advocates and activists for disability equality, and this becomes evident in how we talk about why our work is so important for the success not only of disabled people but of society in general.
However, we don’t think lived experience alone is enough. This has to be coupled with expert knowledge and experience of the subject matter. Or else, if we only talk about ourselves, that would only be helpful if we came to work in your workplace! When we deliver sessions, we utilise our lived experience to highlight why barriers have such an impact on a disabled individual’s ability to achieve, succeed, engage, contribute, and feel included.